2016 Edition

It’s that time of year again. This city is alight with twinkling lights. Festivals and craft sales are under way and Santa’s helpers are stationed in their ornate mall displays waiting for the enthusiastic children to visit, lists in hand. It’s Christmas Time in the City.

There is so much to do and see this time of year. It’s hard to take it all in. Once again, I have complied my annual list of Christmas Things to Do. I hope you will enjoy the 2016 edition.

Cumberland Museum Vintage Christmas Village of Lights

December 18 – 15

$5.15 - $7.50 family rates available

Make a keepsake ornament for your own Christmas tree, decorate gingerbread men and take a nostalgic horse-drawn wagon ride through the illuminated village.

Bundle up for an evening stroll through this picture-perfect postcard setting!Close to one million lights adorn the heritage buildings, trees and fences of Upper Canada Village creating a one-of-a-kind magical backdrop for the annual Alight at Night Festival…a true winter wonderland!

Lots of holiday fun for kids of all ages. Cut your own Christmas tree, take a hayride, visit real reindeer or toboggan down a snow-covered hill. There is just so much to do. It is best to check the website to plan your trip. Website

Christmas Tea at the Billings Estate National Historic Site 2100 Cabot Sreet December 11 and 18, 2016

$20 per person

Take some time to sit down and catch up with friends and family during this busy holiday season by enjoying a hot cup of tea and our popular scones and sandwiches. Learn about the history of Christmas literary classics like ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Carol while taking in the sounds of Victorian carolers in our traditionally decorated historic house.

Ottawa sparkles and shines during the Christmas season with Christmas Lights Across Canada. From early December to early January, thousands of colourful lights illuminate the National Capital Region’s winter landscape. The radiant event, which began nearly three decades ago, became such a hit that cities across Canada now participate in what’s become a national tradition.

This is one of my favourite advent activities. Over the years, we have brightened the lives of others during the Christmas season by putting the focus on giving, sharing, caring and love. I know that , we have made the season of giving special for those around us. There are families in our community in need, there are people who are lonely and there are friends who could use some cheer. Plan you 25 days and show someone the love of a kind gesture this holiday season. Here are a few ideas.

5. Do a wagon food drive in your neighbourhood for your local foodbank 6. Particpate in the shoebox project - http://www.shoeboxproject.com/home.html 7. Bake some cookies for your neighbour, a friend, or a family who could use some home made holiday baking!

8. Hand out gloves and mittens to the homeless, or leave them on park benches.

9. Donate a new toy to Toy Mountain - http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/toy-mountain 10. Give yourself a treat - go for a run or walk in the good outdoors, go to a yoga class, 11. Make some soup for your soul and share it with a friend. Great recipes using local produce at FoodlandOntario.ca 12. Put some change in the Salvation Army kettle. 13. Shovel your neighbours driveway. 14. Volunteer to wrap presents for someone who could use the help and company. 15. Help a furry friend. Donate to the local animal shelter. 16. Make a call. Reach out to someone that you have not heard from in a while. 17. Make Christmas cards and bring them to the hospital to be handed out. 18. Give away your parking spot at the mall. 19. Wrap up some new Christmas pjs for a child in need. 20. Carry candy canes and give them out randomly. Wish people a merry Christmas. 21. Offer to help an elderly neighbour put up Christmas lights.22. Buy some new colouring books and crayons and leave in a hospital waiting room. 23. Bring hot chocolate to your bus driver. 24.Make someone smile. Tell them a Chrismtas joke. ? Where do snowmen keep their money? - Beats me - In a snow bank. 25. Give a teacher a bag of school supplies.

Halloween is one of my absolute favourite holidays of the year.I just love the costumes, the parties, the decorating and pumpkin carving and best of all the little trick or treaters.Over the years, I have written countless blogs and appeared on various shows sharing some of my best ideas and inspiration with you.This year, I have assembled some of my favourite blogs and updated my annual lists of pumpkin patches and events.Look for me on this year on CTV Morning Live and Rogers TV for this year’s latest Halloween tips and tricks.

The nights are getting cooler and the leaves will soon begin to change. Fall is here and with it comes sweater weather, baking, colourful leaves, warm soups and harvest stews. I can almost feel the seasons changing when I step outside and that’s my cue to make some seasonal changes indoors too.

Inspiration is Right Outside Your Door

Take a walk outdoors with the kids to find things to bring inside. This is such a fun family activity. Small branches can be brought inside and bundled together, tied up with pretty ribbon in autumnal colours and placed around your home.

Short, thin twigs can be glued onto clear glass jars to create seasonal votives. Pinecones can be collected and placed in large glass bowls or onto plates and platters. Children can glue pinecones to a paper plate to create a decorative wreath. Add a little English Ivy to your displays. They are not only beautiful, but they are also a natural air purifier.

Take a Trip to the Farmer’s Market

Stop by your local farmers market and pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables to decorate your home. The rich colours and textures of apples, pears, clementines, squash, gourdes and pumpkins really stand our when clustered together in your kitchen or family room.

Throughout the month, swap out fruit with fresher varieties and use your ripened pieces in your fall baking. Nothing says fall like an apple pie or cobbler fresh out of the oven.

Simmer Some Stovetop Potpourri for Natural Warmth

Bring the scents of fall indoors with a simmering stovetop potpourri. Add any combination of your favourite fall fruits and spices to a large pot of boiling water. Reduce the water to a simmer. This will not only make your home smell like fall, but the steam from the pot will add moisture back into the dry air caused by the heat.

Apple slices

Orange slices

Whole nuts with shells

Cinnamon sticks

Vanilla

Whole cloves

Cinnamon

Star of anise

Berries

Essential oils

Create a Cozy Corner

Create a cozy corner in your home that invites your family to relax and unwind. Add inviting blankets and scatter some soft cushions in fall colours. Set out puzzles, games and some great fall reads. Here are my suggestions.

Kids

Apple Farmer Annie – Monica Wellington

Time to Sleep - Denise Fleming

Halloween Day – Anne Rockwell

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf – Lois Ehlert

Giving Thanks – Jonathan London

Leaf Jumpers – Carole Gerber

Applesauce Season – Eden Ross

Pumpkin Circle – Shmuel Thaler

Adults

The Couple Next Door – Shari Lapena

The Best Kind of People – Zoe Whittall

Commonwealth – Ann Patchette

Wenjack – Joseph Boyden

The Wonder – Emma Donoghue

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

Two by Two – Nicholas Sparks

Small Great Things – Jodi Picoult

Pumpkin Spice is Always Nice

Stock up on fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, mulling spice, thyme and vanilla. Fill your pantry with new, fresh ingredients so you are ready on a whim to whip up your favourite fall recipes.

Make and Entrance

From Thanksgiving guests to trick-or-treaters, your front door is a busy place in the fall. Carry your fall decorating right out the door by adding a few potted mums to add an instant pop of autumn colour. Welcome your guests with a cheerful fall doormat and pile on the pumpkins. Don’t be shy to experiment with containers. An old wagon makes a perfect display for hay bales, flowers and gourds.

Freshen up for Fall

Fall cleaning is not as common a phrase as “spring cleaning,” but preparing your nest for the long winter is just as wonderful as cleaning out the cobwebs after a cold season spent indoors.

Clean your blinds with 50-50 vinegar and water mixture and an old sock.

Use a razor to remove paint and lint from clothing. Bring out your favourite cozy sweater. It will get you excited for cool weather.

Freshen your dresser drawers with a sachet of fall spices.

Remove tough carpet stains using an iron and a damp washcloth.

Scrub your cutting boards with half of a lemon and some kosher salt. Rinse off with warm water and dish soap.

Get your cookie sheets ready for holiday baking. Scrub with a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda and enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Rub the paste all over your sheets in small circles. Let sit for 2-3 hours and rinse.

Freshen your mattress by first vacuuming the surface. Follow by sprinkling with baking soda. Let the soda sit for 2 hours before vacuuming off.

Clean your microwave by filling a bowl with equal parts water and vinegar. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. This will steam clean the microwave from the inside allowing you to simply wipe the walls clean.

Wash plastic toys in the dishwasher using the short cycle.

Rub a half bagel over a dusty painting to remove particles from the surface.

A special thanks toFlowers by Maggie, who inspired me with her expertise in bringing "the outside in.

Get Cracking in the Morning with these Large Batch Egg Recipes

Watch as Julie demonstrates three fresh egg recipes to get kids going in the morning. Large batch recipes make it easy to provide your kids with delicious breakfast options packed with protein and fresh ingredients. Recipe links below: